Started full time in an automotive junkyard because I was homeless at 17. Worked my way up by tearing cars apart, figuring out how they worked, and talking to a customer who owned a shop into giving me a chance as a mechanic.
He had a degree in automotive engineering, so I absorbed everything he told me. I didn't have a chance for education, I needed full time work to survive or turn to drug sales.
I was an auto mechanic for 10 years. It got me into a mobile home. I got into equipment repair trying to escape the Karen's of the world who complained about shit like a greasy finger print next to the door handle of their car.
After 6 years of repairing equipment, the general manager of the equipment company decided to open a start up company. He wanted me to go with him and help get it going. He offered double the pay. I accepted.
He set me up as a team lead at a manufacturing company that his friend owned. That was apparently the start up company.
I spent 60-70 hours a week there, a 2 hour commute from my home.
Money was great! Home life sucked!
I was never home. Wife of 20 years started cheating on me, kids started distancing themselves from me..
I was mentally exhausted.
COVID shut all the startup's plans down in 2020. We were providing equipment to the oil fields and COVID fucked that up for some reason.
I was let go in a way that I couldn't be approved for unemployment.
I learned that I could just do side repair jobs and stupid shit like DoorDash to pay my mortgage and utilities. I didn't really need a full time job with people yelling and screaming at me all day to get by in life.
Life is good now that I don't work for anyone else. I don't make much, but I get by. My bills are paid. I can go down and visit my dad in Arizona without making sure it's okay with someone first. I can take my 18 year old daughter out to lunch without worrying about being “short staffed” at work.
Quit your job if your over 35. Losing mine was the best thing that ever happened to me.